Fraurem

I am Fraurem Chrome, a proud member of the House of Count Chrome.

My father is Beezel Kraim Chrome, one of the top-ranking cadres serving the Demon King. Until recently, I lived a life of grace and elegance in the Royal Capital of Graizen as a companion to the Princess. I do not use the word "friend" lightly; the Demon King himself officially designated me as her classmate and confidante.

Naturally, my academic performance at the Academy was exemplary. My martial prowess was equally refined; I trained to a level where I could be deployed to the front lines at a moment’s notice. Should any harm befall the Princess, it was my duty to shield her with my life. My future was clear: I was expected to become her most trusted advisor.

Furthermore, though it may sound boastful, I am quite well-favored in appearance. In fact, calling me a beauty would be an objective statement rather than vanity. Because of this, marriage proposals have naturally flooded in. Of course, they were submitted to my family rather than to me directly—which is only proper. My father, not I, is the one to decide my future partner.

I never entertained girlish dreams of marrying for love. I was prepared to wed whoever my father chose. However, as the proposals mounted, my father seemed unable to make a decision, torn between several promising candidates. While I appreciated his desire to find the best possible match for his daughter, I was beginning to worry about how the delay reflected on my reputation.

And then, everything changed.

Suddenly, by my father’s command, I was ordered to go to a certain village. When I asked if this was a marriage arrangement, he reacted with horror, saying such a thing was "preposterous."

What was I supposed to do in a mere village? Was I to quit the Academy? Resign from my position as the Princess’s companion?

"Father," I asked, "are we fleeing in the night?"

My father didn't even crack a smile at my joke. Instead, he looked at me with a terrifyingly somber expression.

"If I could flee in the night, I would. But this... this affects the very fate of the Demon Kingdom. Steal your heart."

Father seemed utterly exhausted. Whenever he returned home, he would spend hours venting to Mother about his work and his colleagues while acting like a spoiled child. The mental strain on him must have been immeasurable. I saw a flicker of genuine madness in his eyes, and I decided that defying him would be unwise.

I would indulge him for a while. Though it was a shame to leave my life at the capital, I had begun to find the Academy tedious. Perhaps this was a chance to truly display my talents. Though, given the destination was a village, I couldn't expect much.

In fact, I thought to myself, perhaps I would just take control of the place.

"Pleasure to meet you. I am Lastismoon."

...

Shortly after arriving at the village, I found it necessary to change my clothes. Because it concerns my personal dignity, I shall not state the reason why.

I had been greeted by a dragon.

And not just any dragon—it was Lastismoon, the daughter of Draim, the Gate Guardian of the Dragon's Mountain. Every soul in the Demon King's territory knows her name. She is a high-alert "mad dragon" that common wisdom says you must never make eye contact with. Since she was the welcoming party, it was only natural that I... required a change of attire. Or so I told myself.

Then I saw the High Elves. A whole group of them. These were the infamous "Forest Guerrillas," the man-eaters of legend. They were a ferocious race known for snatching men from nearby settlements. High Elves who could survive in the Forest of Death or the Iron Forest were warriors worth a thousand men. A polite greeting from them nearly sent me to the floor, but I managed to maintain my composure. I truly wanted to give myself a pat on the back.

But that was where my resilience ended.

I saw the Inferno Wolves. A whole pack of them. In that moment, I was certain of my impending death. I realized my father hadn't sent me on a mission; he had offered me up as a sacrifice. How cruel, Father.

As I changed my clothes for a second time, Lastismoon assured me that everything was fine. I see. So all of these creatures were under her dominion? That was a relief. Inferno Wolves are the undisputed apex predators of the Forest of Death; even a single one could raze a city. And yet, there were more here than I could count. I even spotted several Cocytus Wolves among them.

I tried to tell myself this was a precious life experience. If I didn't frame it that way, I would have lost my mind. Still, I wondered if they were truly under her control. Several of the wolves were playfully nipping at Lastismoon's skirt, teasing her.

Then came the next horror: a Demon Spider.

The moment our eyes met, I was hit by a "Stan Bash" and knocked unconscious. It is a mental attack these spiders use as a "greeting" for newcomers. Since I wasn't eaten while I was out, I assumed the spider was at least somewhat socialized.

This marked my third change of clothes. At this rate, I began to wonder if I should simply forgo undergarments entirely.

Regardless, for Lastismoon to have brought both Inferno Wolves and Demon Spiders under her heel... she was a terrifying being indeed. I prayed she kept a tight leash on them. A Demon Spider roaming free is a concept beyond words.

The spider also seemed to have an enormous brood. Shadow Spiders, Curse Spiders, Draw Spiders, Trap Spiders, Death Spiders, Hangman Spiders... even as larvae, these are creatures the world fears. And there were countless numbers of them. If they were ever unleashed upon the Demon Kingdom... I decided to stop thinking about it. In fact, I wanted to excise the memory from my brain entirely.

After witnessing the Demon Spider’s nursery, even a Gnosis Bee nest didn't shock me. That isn't to say I wasn't frightened. Gnosis Bees are monsters that collect nectar like ordinary bees, but their honey fetches astronomical prices. The taste is divine, of course, but the real reason for the price is the Soldier Bees. They are so ferocious that even Inferno Wolves are said to avoid the nest as long as the guards are alive. In common parlance, "aiming for Gnosis Bee honey" is a phrase used to describe a delusional fool blinded by greed.

One must not covet that honey. It was being carried past me in jars... but I had to resist. They said it was for tomorrow’s breakfast, but I told myself not to expect any.

I had let my guard down. I was so focused on the honey that I didn't notice the new arrivals.

Four members of the Angel Race stood before me. All of them were named Angels. There was Tia the Annihilation Angel, and the three "Genocide Angels"—Granmaria, Kudel, and Corone. While perhaps not as inherently dangerous as Lastismoon, they were high-priority threats that demanded extreme caution.

Fortunately, I didn't need to change my clothes this time. I suspect I simply had nothing left to "give."

Judging by their amicable conversation with Lastismoon, I assumed there was no immediate danger. I had to believe that.

And then, she appeared. The Vampire Princess, Lulushi. The eternal rival of the Annihilation Angel. Her danger level was easily on par with Tia’s. I braced myself, expecting a magical duel to level the village at any second, but it never came. Instead, they were casually discussing the dinner menu. Was their rivalry merely a fabrication?

With four Angels and a Vampire Princess, they might be a match for Lastismoon. I realized my diplomatic positioning would be precarious. If I only followed Lastismoon, I might offend the others. This was going to be a difficult path to navigate.

Then there was the Vampire Flora. Perhaps the Angels and the two Vampires together actually outranked Lastismoon? No, if anything happened to her, Draim the Gate Guardian would surely intervene. My head began to ache. I had to keep thinking, to keep calculating.

...Wait. If there are dozens of Inferno Wolves and a Demon Spider here, they could likely overwhelm the Angels and Vampires. If Lastismoon controlled them, then she was the clear choice. But something deep in my soul screamed that this logic was flawed.

After that, I encountered several other rare races: High Ogres, Lizardmen, and Elder Dwarves. I was beyond shock by then. I was ready for anything. The Beastman children were a welcome respite; their tails were wonderfully fluffy. Even the Slimes, Cows, and Chickens were soothing to my ragged nerves.

Once the tour was over, I was taken to the Inn. I would be staying there until my own house was built. I hadn't expected much from a village guest house, but I was stunned. The room was better equipped than most noble estates. The linens were of a quality rarely seen even in the capital, used without a second thought. The food was unlike anything I had ever tasted, the sake was exquisite, and the bath was divine—even if I had to share it with others.

I could not afford to underestimate this place. I still didn't understand my father's true goal, but I knew I had to gather information and avoid making enemies.

The sun had set, but the village was still bustling, lit by an extravagant amount of oil. I wondered if Lastismoon was still awake. Should I call her "Lady Lastismoon"? Or "Rusty," like the others? I decided to ask for her permission first. I needed to consult with her about my duties for the following day.

I saw a man walking nearby.

"You there, human. Lead me to where Lastismoon is."

It was a fatal mistake. I should have thought more carefully.

In my defense, I am the daughter of a high-ranking noble. People rarely treat me with anything but the utmost respect, and usually, when arriving at a village, the most important person is the one who greets you. I had assumed the dragon was the one in charge.

I was wrong. I should have realized that in this place, greeting a guest like me was considered a menial chore. I should have realized that this was a village where even the legendary Lastismoon was treated as a common worker.

The pinnacle of this village was not the dragon. It was exactly what his title implied: the Village Head.

A human Village Head.

After he led me to Lastismoon, she pulled me aside. Her face was deathly serious.

"That human is the lord of this village. He has Lu-san and Tia-san as his wives. He is the master of the Inferno Wolves, the Demon Spiders, the High Elves, and everyone else here. He is a personal friend of my father, and even my mother chose to avoid conflict with him. I don't care what becomes of you personally, but I am warning you: do not involve the Dragon Race in your foolishness."

"..."

The arrogant noble daughter I once was died in that moment.

From the ashes of her memory, I was reborn. And in this new life, I decided I would be nothing less than the Village Head’s most loyal and devoted servant.